Law360, New York (November 6, 2003, 12:00 AM EST) -- The validity of U.S. patents covering the sale of digital audio and video downloads will be tested in courts after SightSound won a judge's approval to go ahead with two controversial lawsuits.

Last week, the Western District Court of Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh rejected defendant Bertelsmann's latest motions for dismissal, paving the way for a full hearing on the validity of the patents.

SightSound, which claims to hold patents for the sale and distribution of digital audio and video signals over a telecommunications line, sued two subsidiaries...